View source for Altomare C.87 Ciclone

{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
 |name= Altomare C.87 Ciclone
 |image= File:Panavia Tornado F.3, Italy - Air Force JP6705530.jpg
 |caption= A C.87 aircraft of the 333° Squadrone Caccia, [[33rd Fighter Wing|33° Stormo]]
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 |type= {{Wpl|Fighter aircraft|Fighter}}/{{wpl|Interceptor aircraft|interceptor}}
 |national origin= {{flag|Luminerra}} 
 |manufacturer= [[Altomare Aviation]] 
 |designer=
 |first flight= October 11, 1981
 |introduced= 1987
 |retired= 2023
 |status= Retired 
 |primary user= [[Lumenic Air Force]]
 |more users=
 |produced= 
 |number built=
 |program cost= 
 |unit cost= 
 |developed from= [[Altomare A.79 Ciclone]]
 |variants with their own articles= 
}}
|}

The '''Altomare C.87 Ciclone''' is a fighter aircraft designed and produced by [[Altomare Aviation]] intended to replace the [[Licana|Licanan]] {{wpl|McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|I-36}} and [[Notreceau|Notreceauen]] [[Prévoyance Cygne]] aircraft in service with the [[Lumenic Air Force]]. The aircraft is a is a long-range, twin-engine, {{wpl|variable-sweep wing}} interceptor aircraft. Developed from the [[Altomare A.79 Ciclone]] {{wpl|Fighter-bomber|fighter-bomber}}, the C.87 was originally developed during the [[Omandan Continental War]] as a means for the Lumenic Air Force to intercept [[Order of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Order]] bombers before they could launch attacks against their targets, it was equipped with an extremely powerful {{wpl|radar}} and {{wpl|beyond-visual-range missile}}s.

Though the C.87 served well during the Omandan Continental War and into the years that followed, and remains in service with the Lumenic Air Force, it is intended to ultimately be replaced by more modern {{wpl|Multirole combat aircraft|multirole combat aircraft}} like the [[Scorza C.96 Squalo]] and the [[Altomare C.11 Spettro]] {{wpl|Stealth aircraft|stealth}} fighter aircraft.

The [[33° Stormo "Vanguardia"|33° Stormo]] was the last formation of the [[Lumenic Air Force]] to operate the C.87. The 33° Stormo recieved replacements for its C.87 aircraft in March of 2023 and now operates the [[Scorza C.96 Squalo]]. 

==History and development==

The requirement for a long range interceptor aircraft for the Lumenic AIr Force had been noted as early as the late 1950's following observations made by the Lumenic Legion regarding combat operations conducted by Soviet Forces in northern and central Omand. Lumenic Air Force pilots operating with the [[Royal Mejian Army Air Corps]] described the effectiveness of Soviet supersonic tactical bombers, such as the new {{wpl|Tupolev Tu-22M|Voloshin Vo-22M}} bombers, as well as more common threats like the {{wpl|Sukhoi Su-17|Lyadov Ly-17}} fighter-bombers and lamented their lack of ability to intercept these aircraft prior to them reaching their targets. 

Allied fighter aircraft, such as the Lumenic [[Altomare C.53 Passero]] and the Costa Mejian {{wpl|Bréguet 1100|ARCSA L-1 Halcón}} had absolutely no chance of intercepting the majority of Soviet aircraft. In 1961, following the introduction of the Notreceauen [[Prévoyance Épée III]], Allied fighter pilots began to see some limited success against tactical strike aircraft, most notably the slower Ly-17's, however, the higher and faster flying Vo-22 remained largely immune to interception efforts, and the {{Wpl|Tupolev Tu-160|Voloshin Vo-160}}, introduced in 1967, was completely immune to indigenous built allied aircraft's attempts to intercept them when operating at their service altitude and speed. 

In 1963, the Lumenic and Notreceauen entered into an agreement to jointly develop a new tactical fighter aircraft intended to meet and neutralize the threat posed by both Soviet tactical and air superiority aircraft. The ''Programme d'avion de combat d'urgenc'' or Emergency Fighter Program, eventually resulted in the development and deployment of the [[Prévoyance Cygne]]. However, the Lumenic Air Force was unable to obtain the aircraft in any reasonable number as production and deployment was prioritized for Notreceauen units. In fact, the Cygne, known as the C.73 in Lumenic service, would not see widespread service in the Lumenic Air Force until well after the 1972 [[Omandan Continental War#Offensive into Luminerra|invasion of Luminerra]], eventually reaching operational capacity in 1978, finally phasing the [[Altomare C.53 Passero]] out of fighter wings, religating the inferior aircraft to fighter-bomber squadrons until its eventual total retirement in 1982. 

Faced with an inability to obtain sufficient numbers of C.73's prior to the invasion of Luminerra, the Lumenic government turned to the Republic of Licana for assistance. Licana, a long time trading partner of Luminerra, was weary of the Soviet advance into southern Omand, and clearly saw the threat posed to their economy should the Lumenic {{Wpl|rare-earth element|rare eath metal}} mines fall into Soviet hands. As such, the nation was already examining its options to secure their investments. As one means to that end, the Licanan government authorized the sale of its retired {{wpl|McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|I-36}} fighter aircraft to Luminerra. A total of 520 aircraft remained in the Licanan inventory as of 1970, and the majority of the aircraft were transferred to Lumenic control between 1968 and 1970. 

All indigenous aircraft development was halted in Luminerra in 1972 following the Soviet penetration of the ''Ultima Castellum''; the final defensive line constructed by Luminerra and Notreceau in the northern Alpina Mountains, near the modern day Lumenic-Notreceauen border. At the time, the Lumenic Air Force and the Royal Defense Research Agency had been working to develop a variety of next generation aircraft, including aircraft utilizing {{wpl|stealth aircraft|stealth technology}} to defeat the advancing Soviet forces. One such project underway was what would eventually become the [[Altomare A.79 Ciclone]], a {{wpl|variable-sweep wing}} {{wpl|Interdictor|tactical interdiction}} strike fighter that would serve as the basis for the development of the C.87. 

Development work for the C.87 began as early as 1970, though did not see any significant advancement until 1978, following the removal of Soviet forces from Luminerra. Development began in earnest  in 1979, with the first prototype of the C.87, converted from an existing A.79 airframe, being completed in 1981. This prototype, designated YA.81, first flew in October of that same year.  Development of the airframe and avionic systems were mostly well in hand by 1983, but production was delayed while Luminerra worked to develop a suitable radar set for new aircraft. A suitable {{wpl|beyond-visual-range missile}} had already been selected by developed and was in use by the Lumenic Air Force, designated as the {{wpl|Aspide|Vaccari Lancia}}, later designated the AIM-73 under the [[Lumenic Legion 1995 Common Designation System]]. Technical assistance from the Licanan government played a large role in speeding up development of a suitable radar set, with the Licanan {{Wpl|AN/AWG-9}} serving as technological examples to assist in research and development of the {{Wpl|AI.24 Foxhunter|C/ARA-85}} radar.

==Operational history==

The C.87 aircraft was retired on March 27, 2023 when the [[33° Stormo "Vanguardia"]] received [[Scorza C.96 Squalo]] aircraft to replace its remaining C.87 aircraft. 

==Variants==

* '''YA-81''' - Prototype version constructed form ane xisting A.79 airframe. First flew in 1981. 
* '''C.87''': Initial 1987 production version. 54 produced before the C.87B was accepted.  
* '''C.87B''': 1989 upgrade to the production version, replacing the troublesome Aleo Fulmine engine with the more reliable Vaccari AE-2141. All C-.87 aircraft upgraded to the C.87B standard by 1991. 
* '''C.87C''': 1996 upgrade to the production version, introduced improved avionic systems as well as a redesign of the short-range missile hardpoints to increase carriage capacity and allowance for the newer AIM-95 missile to be carried. Total carriage improved from two AIM-81 missiles to four {{wpl|A-Darter|AIM-95}} {{wpl|Infrared homing|infrared homing}} air to air missiles.

==Operators== 
===Formner===
* {{Flag|Luminerra}}
** [[Lumenic Air Force]]

==Specifications== 
[[File:Tornado ADV 3-view.png|right|450px|Orthographically projected diagram of the C.87 Ciclone]]
[[File:Museum of Flight Tornado 01.jpg|thumb|The {{Wpl|AI.24 Foxhunter|C/ARA-85}} radar and  C.87C Ciclone at the National Aviation Museum in Corgeno, [[Administrative Regions of Luminerra|Notteri]] ]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=
|prime units?=met
|crew=2
|length m=18.68
|length note=
|span m=13.91
|span note=
|height m=5.95
|height note=
|wing area sqm=26.6
|wing area note=
|swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=14500
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=27986
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Vaccari AE-2141
|eng1 type=afterburning 3-spool {{wpl|turbofan}}
|eng1 kn=40.5
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=73.5
|max speed kmh=2400
|max speed note= / M2.2 at {{cvt|9000|m|0}}
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range note=
|combat range km=1853
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=4265
|ferry range note=
|endurance=2 hr combat air patrol at {{cvt|560|–|740|km|0}} from base
|ceiling m=15240
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|armament=
*'''Guns'''
** 1 × 30 mm {{wpl|Oerlikon KCA|Srad CDR-3080}} cannon with 180 rounds (internally mounted under starboard side of fuselage)
*'''{{wpl|Hardpoint}}s:''' 10 total (4× semi-recessed under-fuselage, 2× under-fuselage, 4× swivelling under-wing)
**4× {{wpl|R-Darter|AIM-15}} {{Wpl|beyond-visual-range missile}}  
**4× {{wpl|A-Darter|AIM-92}} {{wpl|Infrared homing|infrared homing}} air-to-air missiles (mounted on 4 semi-recessed under-fuselage hardpoints)
**6× [[Joint Advanced Anti-Aircraft Missile|AIM-95]] long range {{Wpl|air-to-air missile}}s
*'''Others''':
**Up to 2× {{Wpl|drop tank}}s for extended range/loitering time. Up to 4 drop tanks for ferry role
|avionics=
* [[Elettronica Consolidata di Luminerra|ECONLU]] {{Wpl|AI.24 Foxhunter|C/ARA-85}} radar
* [[Joint Advanced Anti-Aircraft Missile|C/ART-95]] {{wpl|Ku-band|K<sub>u</sub>-band}} {{wpl|phased array}} RADAR illumination pod
}}

==See also==

: '''Related'''
* [[Altomare A.79 Ciclone]] 
* [[Altomare E.93 Ciclone]]

: '''Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era'''


[[Category: Luminerra]]
[[Category: Lumenic Legion]]
[[Category: Weapon Systems in Annwynn]]